Ka-Band Satellite Transponder TR500
ReliaSat
The TR500 is a dual-transceiver Ka-band transponder module for LEO satellite payloads, providing 27 dBm saturated output power, sub-2.5 dB noise figure, and up to 250 MHz instantaneous bandwidth with on-board TCXO frequency stability of +/-0.28 ppm.
Typed specifications54 values
Discloses 6 of 13 fields engineers filter by in this category (category median 3).
- Frequency band
- K 17-21 GHz side, flat panel antenna section calls it K-band · datasheet p.5 Ka RX | Ka TX
- Mass
- 2 000 g max · datasheet p.3 2 000 g max · total mass <2 kg
- Frequency range
- 1 000–4 000 MHz RX IF output frequency range · datasheet p.2 17 000–21 000 MHz RX input | 27 000–30 000 MHz RX input frequency range (spec table; features list on p.1 sa… | 17 000–21 000 MHz RX input frequency, features list (contradicts spec table p.2) | 1 000–5 000 MHz TX IF input frequency range +5
- TX RF output power
- 0.398 W at P1dB Compression (Pin=-14 dBm) · datasheet p.2 0.398 W output power at P1dB compression (Pin=-14 dBm) | 0.501 W saturated | 0.501 W Saturated (Pin=-15 dBm) | 0.501 W saturated output power (Pin=-15 dBm)
- Supply voltage
- 7–42 V datasheet p.2 7–42 V RX Supply Voltage Range | 7–42 V supply voltage range (transmitter and receiver) | 7–42 V TX Supply Voltage Range | 7–42 V
- Power consumption
- 6 W max · RX @ 12 VDC · datasheet p.2 6 W max · RX, @ 12 VDC | 11.5 W max · TX @ 12 VDC | 11.5 W max · TX, @ 12 VDC
- Operating temperature
- -40–85 °C datasheet p.3
- Radiation tolerance (TID)
- 50 krad datasheet p.3
- Function
- transceiver datasheet p.1 transponder two Ka-band transceivers operating as wideband up/down conver…
- RF connector
- other IF Signal Connector Types, SMP edge mounts · datasheet p.3 SMP IF signal connectors, edge mounts | other RF Connector Types, SMPM edge mount | SMPM RF, edge mount | SMPM
- Power draw, receive
- 6 W max · receiver DC power @ 12 VDC, <6 · datasheet p.2
- Power draw, transmit
- 11.5 W max · transmitter DC power @ 12 VDC, <11.5 · datasheet p.2
- Connector
- SMP datasheet p.1 6-pin Pico-Lock Connector Current Sensor, Temperature Sensor, Frequency Synthesiser Loc… | DC flying leads DC | DC Flying Leads DC power | 6-Pin Pico-Lock DC power enable, PLL lock, current and temperature sensor +3
- Satellite class
- CubeSat form factor requirement: Cube Sat <1 U · datasheet p.3
- Channel bandwidth
- 250 000 kHz max · up to 250 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth · datasheet p.1
- Board format
- custom Cube Sat <1 U · datasheet p.3
- RF gain
- 30–35 dB RX conversion gain · datasheet p.2 38–43 dB TX conversion gain
- Noise figure
- 2.5 dB max · receiver, <2.5 · datasheet p.2
Each value is typed with its unit and measurement condition and cites the datasheet page it was taken from. Nothing is guessed: a field that is absent here has not been published by the manufacturer. machine-extracted ✓ checked by NewSpace Market ✓ manufacturer confirmed by the manufacturer.
As published by the supplier11 lines, in the manufacturer's own wording
- Tx frequency
- 17-21 GHz
- Rx frequency
- 27-31 GHz
- Saturated output power
- 27 dBm
- Noise figure
- <2.5 dB
- Instantaneous bandwidth
- Up to 250 MHz
- Reference frequency
- 100 MHz (external or on-board TCXO)
- Frequency stability
- +/-0.28 ppm (-40C to +85C)
- RF connectors
- SMP and SMPM
- DC power connector
- DC Flying Leads
- Control connector
- 6-Pin Pico-Lock (enable, PLL lock, current, temperature)
- Architecture
- Dual integrated Ka-band transceivers
About
The TR500 is an integrated transponder module specifically designed for Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Ka-band satellite communication systems. It incorporates two Ka-band transceivers operating as wideband up/down converters, offering up to 250 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth with a saturated output power of 27 dBm and noise figure below 2.5 dB.
On-board frequency synthesizers can lock to an external or on-board 100 MHz reference signal provided by high-precision, low-power Temperature Compensated Crystal Oscillators (TCXO), delivering frequency stability of +/-0.28 ppm across -40C to +85C. This ensures the tight frequency tolerances required for LEO satellite constellation inter-operation without external frequency references.
The TR500 uses SMP and SMPM RF connectors for compact integration, DC Flying Leads for power, and 6-Pin Pico-Lock connectors for power enable, PLL lock indicator, current monitoring, and temperature sensing. The dual-transceiver architecture makes it suitable for satellite payloads requiring simultaneous uplink and downlink capability in compact smallsat and CubeSat platforms operating in Ka-band LEO constellations.
Documentation
Need the full ICD, test reports or a specific revision? Ask the supplier directly.